One thing Jack Eichel knew about being approached in the match against the Rangers at the Gardens on Tuesday was that he was “We Don’t Want You!” By 18,000 fans. Will not be seen with. By the way, Rick Nash, when he came to town with the Blue Jackets eight days before the 2011–12 deadline and Derek Steffen scored the remaining goal with 1:33 left in regulation before winning for the good guys in overtime. Achieved it.
(How would Echelle know this? Well this building will only have 1,800 fans.)
Back in the day, the Big 61 was the shining apple of the Rangers’ eye, with then-general manager Glenn Sather regarded as the missing link to the team’s Stanley Cup aspirations. It was headline-generating stuff, with the Blueshirts set to participate with a much broader package to add the winger to the team’s lineup in the first place.
The Rangers, as reported at the time, offered Brandon Dubinsky, 2011 first-rounder JT Miller, Tim Irickson, Christian Thomas, and a 2012 first-round pick in exchange for Nash, who owned a no-trade clause And could achieve their destination. He asked after the perennial reconstruction in Columbus.
But the Jackets’ GM Scott Howson was greedy at the time. He wanted more. In fact, he asked Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto, plus Stephen or Carl Hagelin, plus BC junior Chris Kreider, plus Dubinsky, plus-a-rounder.
It was relatively easy for the Rangers to reject that outrageous demand. Fans were not necessarily opposed to acquiring Nash, but had no part in disbanding the black-and-blueshirt squad that emerged as a surprise team in the NHL. (Surprise; then head coach John Tortella didn’t want to break up the team either.)
The Rangers went to the conference finals before being troubled in six matches by the Devils. Months later, of course, Sather received his man (and a third-rounder who would become Pavel Buchaniewicz) for a package of Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Atrix and a first-rounder, representing the equivalent of a pre-deadline offer.
Fast forward through several ceremonies, a presidential trophy, a trip to the Cup finals and a disappointingly disappointing production from Nash ahead of the 2018 deadline for the Bruins, and nine years later, the shiny apple of Euchel Rangers’ eye is.
The center wants him and his evergreen partner Saber to make their way into Manhattan, which is definitely the sixth straight season out of the playoffs and sixth in a row as Aichel was selected second in the 2015 draft as Conner McDavid went. Buffalo first-year GM Kevin Adams may not be in a hurry to accommodate Euchel.
But when it becomes real, the Rangers will be at the forefront of the Soliters, whether it is before the April 12 deadline or during the offseason. It is very ranger-ish to hunt shiny objects, but there is a difference here. Eichel will not be exaggerated. It will not be a luxury item. He is needed. He is also 24 years old. No Marcel Dion, here.
The mysterious demise of Mika Zibanezad has led to readiness to address issues between blueshirts. This is not about Ryan Storm’s viability as the center of the second line for a long time. It is no longer about running issues in-depth through the organization. Rather, it is about the location of the first line, which Patriarchy decided with the emergence of the last two seasons of Zibanezad.
Of course, last year’s crazy was over which produced a 41-goal, 75-point season that became a 70-game schedule in which Jibanezad played 57 contests. This raised the credibility of Jibanezad as an upper-center. Over the past two years, the 27-year-old Svedt has gained 149 points (71–78) in the NHL overall, which is the 20th best.
But this year? On Monday, 166 forwards were at five-on-five at 235: 00 on Monday, according to NaturalStreet.com. Zibenzad was 166th and final in production, with a point (one assist) in 237: 10. Zibanejad, of course, has one more year on his contract before he can become a free agent after 2021-22. It would seem impossible for the Rangers to extend him over the summer.
This creates an urgent need for the center of the first line. Now, you will note that Eichel ranks among 149 qualified in five-on-five production with five points (1–4), but this is largely a product of organizational dysfunction as lacking in his game. No one questions her status as a stud.
The Rangers will have to pay for Eichel, who has the remaining five years on another deal, which presents a fixed cost of $ 10 million per year, with no doubt about that. It is almost impossible to encapsulate a scenario under which Blueshirts could fit the BU product – which played for David Quinn – unless Jibnejad (with Klaus without a move) was part of the package going the other way. But summer is coming and the possibilities will be endless, even if it is expensive. Nash-like expensive.
On Tuesday, 1,800 fans will also chant, “Yes, we want you!” Yes, we need you! “
Leave a Reply